Shooting gallery apparatus including impact transmitting projector

ABSTRACT

A shooting gallery type of game enabling the operator to aim a projectile at a target and control the propelling of the projectile toward the target. The game of the invention has a transparent, non-magnetic wall, and a magnetic projectile is situated next to the wall on one side thereof. A target is situated on the same side of the wall as the projectile, but at a substantial distance from the wall. A permanent magnet is adapted to be situated by the operator on the other side of the wall from the projectile to act magnetically on the projectile to move the latter along the wall and locate the projectile at a selected location. A manually operable impact structure is situated next to the permanent magnet and cooperates therewith for transmitting an impact through the permanent magnet and wall to the projectile for projecting the latter toward the target.

ilnite tates atent [1 1 Loin et a1.

Nov. 5, 1974 [75] Inventors: Raymond J. Lohr; Martin Condry,

both of Erie; Mahlon E. Hirsch, Fairview; Richard N. Carver; Maxmillian P. Rogers, both of Erie, all of Pa.

[73] Assignee: Louis Marx & Co., lnc., Stamford,

Conn.

[22] Filed: May 29, 1973 21 Appl. No: 364,579

[52] US. Cl 273/101, 273/102 R, 124/41 [51] int. Cl. A63f 9/02 [58] Field of Search", 273/95 R, 101, 102 R, 105.2; 124/41,16,17

' [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,412,625 4/1922 Nelson 273/101 2,636,738 4/1953 Abagoff t 124/16 2,830,569 4/1958 Sakuta 273/101 3,186,119 6/1965 Maras 124/41 3,734,502 5/1973 Bolton 273/1 M Primary Examiner--Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney, Agent, or FirmBlum Moscovitz Friedman & Kaplan [57] ABSTRACT A shooting gallery type of game enabling the operator to aim a projectile at a target and control the propelling of the projectile toward the target. The game of the invention has a transparent, non-magnetic wall, and a magnetic projectile is situated next to the wall on one side thereof. A target is situated on the same side of the wall as the projectile, but at a substantial distance from the wall. A permanent magnet is adapted to be situated by the operator on the other side of the wall from the projectile to act magnetically on the projectile to move the latter along the wall and locate the projectile at a selected location. A manually operable impact structure is situated next to the permanent magnet and cooperates therewith for transmitting an impact through the permanent magnet and wall to the projectile for projecting the latter toward the target.

13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures SHOOTING GALLERY APPARATUS INCLUDING IMPACT TRANSMITTING PROJECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to games.

In particular, the present invention relates to a shooting gallery type of game in which a projectile is capable of being controlled by the operator in such a way that will be propelled toward a target.

Games of the above general type are already known. Thus, there are games where relatively complex structures are provided for projecting projectiles toward a target. The projectiles are projected by spring-pressed plungers or the like, for example, with the projectiles issuing from a tube simulating a gun barrel, for example, so that the projectiles will travel, for example along the interior of a housing, toward a suitable target. Such structures are exceedingly complex. Complications are involved not only in the structure of the projector but also in the structure for retrieving the projectiles and returning them to a position where they may again be projected by the operator. One of the complications encountered with such conventional constructions resides in the mounting of the projector which generally must be swivelled so that it is possible to aim the projectile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a game of the above general type which will avoid the complications encountered with the previously known constructions.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game of the above general type which is relatively light and simple in its construction and which at the same time is capable of providing a high degree of entertainment and testing of the skill of the operator.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a game of the above general type which does not re- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of one possible embodiment of a game according to the invention;

'FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the game of the invention taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view of the game of the invention, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows:

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a projector shown in FIG. 4 in association with a transparent wall and projectile;

FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively illustrate how the operator manipulates the game to return the projectiles to their starting position;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the game of the invention with part of the front wall thereof removed;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of a side wall of the housing of the game of the invention as is appears at the exterior;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional plan view of the structure of FIG. 4 taken along line 10- 10 of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT game 20 of the present invention which is illustrated quire a projector to be pennanently attached to any structure, while at the same time it is possible to retain the projectiles within the interior of a housing so tha the projectiles cannot become lost.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game of the above general type with different types of targets which operate in different ways to increase the entertainment value of the game as well as the skill which is required.

According to the invention the shooting gallery game has a transparent, non-magnetic wall, and a magnetic projectile is situated next to this wall on one side thereof. A target is situated on the same side of the wall as the projectile at a substantial distance from the wall. A permanent magnet is adapted to be situated by the operator on the other side of the wall from the projectile to act magnetically on the projectile to move the latter along the wall and to locate the projectile at a selected location on the one side of the wall where the projectile is located. A manually operable impact means is located next to the permanent magnet and cooperates therewith for transmitting an impact through the permanent magnet and wall to the projectile so as to project the latter toward the target.

therein includes a hollow housing 22 which is of a generally cube-shaped configuration. This housing 22 has a rear wall 24 as well as a bottom wall 26 and a top wall 28, the latter walls 26 and 28 respectively projecting forwardly from the bottom and top edges of the rear wall 24. The housing 22 has a front open end which is closed by a transparent non-magnetic wall 30 made of any suitable clear plastic, for example. The housing 22 is completed by a pair of opposed side walls 32 and 34.

The front edge of the housing 22 has a rearwardly extending flange portion 36 extending all around the front periphery of the housing. At its lower region the flange portion 36 is integrally connected with a downwardly extending wall portion 38 which forms together with the lower portion of the flange 36 a support means capable of supporting the housing 22 in the inclined position shown in FIG. 2 on any suitable support 40, such as a tabletop. Thus it will be seen from FIG. 2 that the bottom edge of the rear wall 24 is situated at a lower elevation than the bottom edge of the front wall 30.

This front wall 30 is formed from a transparent clear plastic sheet which has also a rearwardly extending peripheral flange 42. The flange 42 extends over the flange 36, and releasable screws 44 may be provided for releasably fastening the wall 30 to the front peripheral edge of the housing 22.

In the interior of the housing 22 are located a plurality of projectiles 46, in the form of metal ball members made of a magnetic material such as any suitable ferrous metal. Because of the spherical configuration, the projectiles 46 will automatically collect at the region of the bottom edge of the rear wall 24, due primarily to the inclination of the bottom wall 26, after the projectiles have been projected in a manner described in greater detail below. a

As may be seen from the lower right region of FIG. 2, the bottom wall 26 has a front downwardly extending region 48 defining with the lower region of the front wall 30 a space in which is accommodated a retaining means 50 capable of retaining the projectiles 46 in a position to be projected. As is shown most clearly in FIGS. l. and 7, the retaining means 50 is in the form of ,an elongated rigid member 52 made of any suitable plastic, metal, wood, or the like, although it is preferred to mold the retaining means 52 integrally with the remainder of the wall structure of the housing 22, except for the front wall 30 thereof. This retaining means 50 takes the form of an elongated portion situated directly behind the lower region of the wall 30 and formed with a plurality of upwardly directed notches 54 horizontally arranged across the front lower region of the housing in a manner shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 7. These notches 54 are large enough so that each notch can receive only one ball 46, and the depth of the notches 54 is such that if a ball is located in a notch, another ball can roll freely across an occupied notch. As a result, after the projectiles have collected at the bottom edge region of the rear wall, the operator can simply raise the entire housing 22 and shake it about and tilt it in the manner illustrated in FIGS. and 6, so as to distribute the several projectiles respectively in the several notches 54 preparatory to projecting the several projectiles toward targets which are situated within the housing 22 between the rear wall 24 and the front wall 30 thereof.

For the purpose of projecting the projectiles, a permanent magnet 56 is provided. This permanent magnet 56 takes the form of a cylindrical body having integrally fixed thereto at its right end, as viewed in FIG. 4, an outwardly directed flange 58 for a purpose referred to below. The permanent magnet 56 can be moved by the operator along the exterior front surface of the wall 30, and because of the magnetic attraction, a spherical projectile will roll along the interior surface of the wall 30 remaining in alignment with the magnet 56 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, and 10.

The permanent magnet 56 is carried by an impact means 60 which in turn is carried and manipulated by the operator. This impact means 60 has the configuration of a pistol, as is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 4. Thus, the impact means 60 includes a hollow plastic housing 62 made, for example, of a pair of outer housing parts which are mirror images of each other and which are joined together to define the entire housing 62. The housing 62 supports for sliding movement in its interior an elongated impact member 64. The impact member 64 extends through openings formed in transverse walls adjacent the upper region of the housing 62 so as to be guided for movement toward and away from the magnet 56. A spring 66 surrounds the elongated impact member 64, pressing at its front end against a transverse portion 68 of the impact member 64 and at its rear end against a transverse wall 70 of the housing. The impact member 64 is capable of moving freely through an opening in the transverse wall 70 back to the dot-dash line position indicated in FIGS. 4 and 10. Forward movement of the impact member 64 beyond the solid line position thereof shown in FIGS. 4 and is limited by engagement of the flange 58 with the front end wall of the housing 62.

The transverse projection 68 of the impact member 64 which is engaged at its rear surface by the spring 66 is engaged in the position of the part shown in FIGS. 4 and 10 at its front surface by a retracting projection 72. This retracting projection 72 extends integrally from a springy member 74 which extends over and is connected at its front end to a trigger-simulating member 76. Thus it will be noted that the housing 62 has a trigger guard simulating part 78 which defines with an exterior portion of trigger-simulating member 76 an opening 80 which can receive the trigger finger of the operator, while the remainder of the hand of the operator can engage the pistol grip 82.

The hollow pistol grip 82 fixedly carries in its interior a transverse pin 84 around which a wire spring 86 is positioned as indicated in FIG. 4, with one end of the spring engaging the front wall of the pistol grip 82 and with the top end of the spring extending into engagement with a tongue 88 projecting from the triggersimulating portion 76. This trigger simulating portion 76 extends forwardly to the front end 90 thereof from which the springy portion 74 extends rearwardly in a manner according to which the portion 74 can freely deflectdownwardly and upwardly without interference from any other elements.

For the purpose of deflecting element 74, the housing 62 fixedly carries in its interior a deflecting wall or cam 92. This cam 92 has a front edge situated in the path of rearward movement of an inclined rear region of the springy part 74.

Thus, when the operator retracts element 76 in opposition to the spring 66, the retracting projection 72 will act on the transverse projection 68 of impact member 64 to retract the latter in opposition to the spring 66. At the same time the front edge of the cam 92 will engage the springy portion 74 and deflect the latter downwardly. Just before the projection 72 reaches the front edge of the cam 92, the tip of retracting projection 72, situated at the uppermost part thereof, will be displaced below the transverse projection 68 so as to re lease the latter to the force of the compressed spring 66, this spring now driving the impact member 64 forwardly until its front end engages the rear end of the magnetic member 56.

Thus, with the structure as described above, the operator will initially place the front end of the magnet 56 in alignment with a ball member situated in one of the notches 54, and then the magnetic member 56 will be moved upwardly along the front surface of the wall 30 to locate the projectile 64 which has been selected at a desired location. When the operator feels that the projectile 46 which has been raised in this way along the inner surface of the wall 30 is properly aligned with a selected target, the operator will retract the triggersimulating element 76 until the impact means is released to be driven forwardly by the spring 66 and strike against the magnet 56. The result is that the impact is transmitted through the magnet 56 and the wall 30 to the projectile 46 which now is propelled toward the selected target. Thereafter, the operator will raise another selected projectile in the same way and will propel it in the same way. Of course, different people may take turns or any rules may be provided for the shooting gallery game of the invention.

As is apparent from FIGS. 3 and 7, the side wall 34 fixedly carries an interior projection 94 which receives a rearwardly directed end of a rod 96 which extends all the way across the hollow interior of the housing in front of the rear wall 24 thereof, the opposite end of the rod 96 extending, for example, through the wall 32 and being situated at the exterior of the housing between a pair of reinforcing ribs 98 at the exterior of the housing, as shown in FIG. 8. The housing is made of a plastic sheet material, as pointed out above, and as may be seen from FIG. 8, a portion of the wall 32 is formed with an opening 100 partially covered by a springy tongue 102 which leaves in the opening 100 a free space which at all parts is smaller than the diameter of a projectile 46. In this way it is possible for the operator to push projectiles past the tongue 102, letting them drop in the interior of the housing 22, while at the same time because of the presence of the tongue 102 the projectiles cannot fall out of the housing.

The horizontally extending rod 96 supports for free swinging movement thereon a plurality of targets of different shapes such as the several targets 104 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, these targets carrying, for example, different scores indicative of the difficulty of striking the targets.

In addition, the rear wall 24 carries at its front surface special targets which add considerable interest to the game. Thus, at its upper left region, as viewed in FIG. 7, the rear wall 24 carries at its front surface an enclosure 106 having at its top region an opening 108 through which a ball can enter the enclosure, this enclosure being open at its bottom end. Within the enclosure is situated a rotary body 110, the construction of which is clearly apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, and this body 110 is turnable on a pin 112 which projects forwardly from the rear wall 24. Part of the rotary member 110 is visible through an opening in the front wall of the enclosure 106, and this part simulates the front face of a clock carrying hands, as is apparent from FIG. 7. The rotary member 110 carries at its periphery outwardy extending blades 114, and behind the opening 108, the wall 24 carries a deflecting member 116. Thus, when a ball enters through the opening 108 into the enclosure 106, the ball will be deflected downwardly by the front inclined surface of the deflecting element 116 and will strike one of the vanes 114 to rotate the member 110 to provide an exceedingly entertaining effect while at the same time the ball will then fall out through the open bottom of the enclosure 106 to end its movement at the region of the bottom edge of the rear wall 24.

An additional target which is carried by the rear wall is in the form of a bell 118 supported in a recess in the rear wall 24 in the manner shown most clearly in FIG. 3, this bell providing a loud ringing noise, particularly when one of the metal projectiles directly engages the rivet 120 which serves to fix the bell 118 in the recess at the rear of the housing in the manner shown most clearly in FIG. 3. The rear wall 24 of the housing is formed with rearwardly extending portions 122 extending into the hollow interior of the bell 118 to provide an increased sound effect.

According to a further feature of the invention, the rear wall 24 carries at its upper right region a deflecting element 124 having a front deflecting surface which is inclined downwardly and rearwardly. A ball which engages the deflecting element 124 will be deflected downwardly into a chute 126 which directs the ball onto another chute 128 which extends along the inner surface of the side wall 32. In this way a projectile which is deflected to the chute 128 will be returned to the space over the retaining means 50, so that such a ball may again be projected.

While most of the target members carried by the rod 96 are capable of freely swinging fully around the rod 96, a pair of the targets 130, in the example illustrated, have rearwardly extending web portions 132 engaging a stationary projection 134 carried by the front surface of the rear wall 24 of the housing. This arrangement is shown most clearly in FIG. 2. Thus, with this construction when a. ball engages a part of a target above the rod 96, the target 130 will not swing. It is only when a ball engages a part of the target 130 below the rod 96 thatthe target 130 will swing so as to become located in a position where the free ends 136 swing into engagement with the bottom surface of the forwardly projecting wall 134 so that now the portions of the targets 130 shown in FIG. 3 extend vertically and are situated forwardly of the rod 96, to provide an exceedingly effective and entertaining result. The wall 134 is supported at its opposite ends by a pair of triangular supports 138.

It is apparent from the above description that the shooting gallery game of the invention is exceedingly simple and inexpensive. It is composed of rugged elements which can be operated again and again over a long period of time without encountering any faulty operation. Moreover, the structure is light and easy to carry about and store, as is apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6 which illustrate the size of the structure with respect to the hands of the operator.

It is to be noted particularly in connection with FIGS. 4 and 10 that the magnet 56 can be freely moved about to any desired location along the front surface of the transparent wall 30. As soon as the impact member 64 is retracted slightly, it is possible for the magnet 56 to move longitudinally in the opening at the front wall of the housing 62, so that the operator does not require a particularly steady hand to maintain the magnet in engagement with the front wall 30. In other words, even though element 76 is retracted by the operator, the magnet 56 is capable of remaining in engagement with the wall 30 at any selected location because of the freedom of the housing 62 to move longitudinally with respect to the magnet 56 which remains reliably at a desired location along the wall 30. While the operator holds the magnet 56 at a desired elevation, the front end of the magnet 56 remains in engagement with the front surface of the wall 30 by attraction to the projectile which is supported at a desired location at the inner surface of the front wall 30 by the magnet 56, and thus there is no danger that the magnet 56 will not be directly in engagement with the wall 30 when the impact member 64 is driven into engagement with the magnet 56. In this way the force of impact is transmitted very effectively directly through the wall 30 to the ball member and the force of the spring 66 is efficiently used to propel a projectile 46 toward a selected target.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shooting gallery game, a transparent, nonmagnetic wall, a magnetic projectile situated next to said wall on one side thereof, a target situated on the same side of said wall as said projectile at a substantial distance from said wall, a permanent magnet adapted to be situated by the operator on the other side of said wall from said projectile to act magnetically on said projectile for moving the latter along said wall and locating said projectile at a selected location on said one side of said wall, and manually operable impact means located next to said permanent magnet for movement with respect thereto into impact engagement therewith to transmit an impact through said permanent magnet and wall to said projectile for projecting the latter toward said target.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said manually operable impact means includes an impact member to be driven into engagement with said permanent magnet, a spring for urging said impact member into engagement with said permanent magnet, and manually engageable means coacting with said impact member for retracting the latter in opposition to said spring and for then releasing said impact member to the force of said spring to be driven thereby into engagement with said permanent magnet.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said impact means has the configuration of a pistol, said manually engageable means having a trigger-simulating portion to be engaged and retracted by the operator, and said permanent magnet being carried by a front end region of said impact means in alignment with said impact member.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said impact means includes a hollow housing of pistol-shaped configuration carrying said permanent magnet for free movement with respect to said housing when said impact member is retracted, with said permanent magnet projecting forwardly beyond said housing to engage said transparent wall, said manually engageable means having a springy portion which engages and retracts said impact member and said housing carrying a cam for deflecting said springy portion away from said impact member automatically when said impact member has been retracted through a given distance in opposition to said spring.

5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a hollow housing has a front open end closed by said transparent wall, said housing having a rear wall provided with a front surface directed toward said transparent wall, said target being situated between said rear wall of said housing and said transparent wall.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein a support means is operatively connected with said housing for supporting the latter at an inclined position where a bottom edge of said rear wall is at an elevation lower than a bottom edge of said transparent wall, said housing having a bottom wall extending between said bottom edges, so that the projectile, after being projected away from said transparent wall toward the target will automatically become situated at the region of the bottom edge of said rear wall.

7. The combination of claim 6 and wherein said target includes a rod extending across and carried by opposed side walls of said housing, and a plurality of target elements swingable on said rod.

8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein a chute extends along the inner surface of a side wall of said housing to direct a projectile back to said retaining means, and a deflecting member carried by said rear wall of said housing at said front surface thereof for deflecting a projectile onto said chute to be returned thereby to said retaining means.

9. The combination of claim 8 and wherein said target includes a hollow enclosure carried by said rear wall at said front surface thereof and having an opening through which a projectile can enter into said enclosure, said enclosure carrying a rotary member which is rotated by the weight of a projectile entering into said enclosure.

10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said enclosure and said rotary member simulate a clock.

11. The combination of claim 7 and wherein a bell is carried by said rear wall at said front surface thereof to form an additional target.

12. The combination of claim 6 and wherein a plurality of projectiles in the form of magnetic ball members are situated within said housing, the latter carrying at the region of the bottom edge of said front wall a retaining means for retaining the plurality of projectiles in position to be moved one after the other along said transparent wall by said permanent magnet, so that after a plurality of projectiles are projected toward the target the housing may be raised and said bottom wall tilted downwardly toward the bottom edge region of said transparent wall to return the projectiles to said retaining means.

13. The combination of claim 12 and wherein said housing has a springy deflectable wall portion through which projectiles can be introduced into said housing. =l =l= 

1. In a shooting gallery game, a transparent, non-magnetic wall, a magnetic projectile situated next to said wall on one side thereof, a target situated on the same side of said wall as said projectile at a substantial distance from said wall, a permanent magnet adapted to be situated by the operator on the other side of said wall from said projectile to act magnetically on said projectile for moving the latter along said wall and locating said projectile at a selected location on said one side of said wall, and manually operable impact means located next to said permanent magnet for movement with respect thereto into impact engagement therewith to transmit an impact through said permanent magnet and wall to said projectile for projecting the latter toward said target.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said manually operable impact means includes an impact member to be driven into engagement with said permanent magnet, a spring for urging said impact member into engagement with said permanent magnet, and manually engageable means coacting with said impact member for retracting the latter in opposition to said spring and for then releasing said impact member to the force of said spring to be driven thereby into engagement with said permanent magnet.
 3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said impact means has the configuration of a pistol, said manually engageable means having a trigger-simulating portion to be engaged and retracted by the operator, and said permanent magnet being carried by a front end region of said impact means in alignment with said impact member.
 4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said impact means includes a hollow housing of pistol-shaped configuration carrying said permanent magnet for free movement with respect to said housing when said impact member is retracted, with said permanent magnet projecting forwardly beyond said housing to engage said transparent wall, said manually engageable means having a springy portion which engages and retracts said impact member and said housing carrying a cam for deflecting said springy portion away from said impact member automatically when said impact member has been retracted through a given distance in opposition to said spring.
 5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a hollow housing has a front open end closed by said transparent wall, said housing having a rear wall provided with a front suRface directed toward said transparent wall, said target being situated between said rear wall of said housing and said transparent wall.
 6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein a support means is operatively connected with said housing for supporting the latter at an inclined position where a bottom edge of said rear wall is at an elevation lower than a bottom edge of said transparent wall, said housing having a bottom wall extending between said bottom edges, so that the projectile, after being projected away from said transparent wall toward the target will automatically become situated at the region of the bottom edge of said rear wall.
 7. The combination of claim 6 and wherein said target includes a rod extending across and carried by opposed side walls of said housing, and a plurality of target elements swingable on said rod.
 8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein a chute extends along the inner surface of a side wall of said housing to direct a projectile back to said retaining means, and a deflecting member carried by said rear wall of said housing at said front surface thereof for deflecting a projectile onto said chute to be returned thereby to said retaining means.
 9. The combination of claim 8 and wherein said target includes a hollow enclosure carried by said rear wall at said front surface thereof and having an opening through which a projectile can enter into said enclosure, said enclosure carrying a rotary member which is rotated by the weight of a projectile entering into said enclosure.
 10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said enclosure and said rotary member simulate a clock.
 11. The combination of claim 7 and wherein a bell is carried by said rear wall at said front surface thereof to form an additional target.
 12. The combination of claim 6 and wherein a plurality of projectiles in the form of magnetic ball members are situated within said housing, the latter carrying at the region of the bottom edge of said front wall a retaining means for retaining the plurality of projectiles in position to be moved one after the other along said transparent wall by said permanent magnet, so that after a plurality of projectiles are projected toward the target the housing may be raised and said bottom wall tilted downwardly toward the bottom edge region of said transparent wall to return the projectiles to said retaining means.
 13. The combination of claim 12 and wherein said housing has a springy deflectable wall portion through which projectiles can be introduced into said housing. 